Craft Beer Happy Hour in Tokyo

April 1, 2017

If you read our article on Cheap Craft Beer Bars in Tokyo, then you may have wondered where the happy hour bars are. Well, not everyone can get to a bar when happy hour is on, though some people can. Tokyo isn’t known for being a cheap place for eating or drinking, but if you look hard enough, or follow BeerTengoku, then you may have come across some craft beer bars that are cheap and are worth visiting.

The only problem though is that there may be hidden costs or disadvantages: table charges, tax not included, or smoking throughout. In this article about drinking on the cheap, we’re going to list the ten best happy hour deals in Tokyo; however, these will not appear in any ranking or order as bars are a subjective thing – how can bar X be better than bar Y if you have to stand up?

1) The Lower Right

Located in the Daimon / Hamamatsucho area, The Lower Right opened in 2015 but with its very generous happy hour, as proven to be one of our favourite places for getting some cheap happy hour beers in. Along with On The Table, The Lower Right offers a happy hour stretching from 11:30 to 19:00 with all large beers 550yen. Incredible value for money there – the only problem with it is the bar allows smoking at random times. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

2) Good Beer Faucets

Along with The Aldgate, Good Beer Faucets is one of Shibuya’s best craft beer bars and always offers a decent selection of beer, both from Japan and imported. However, if you really want to maximise your drinking funds, then happy hour at Good Beer Faucets is where it’s at. 200yen off doesn’t sound like much, but it brings the in-house beers (from Baird Beer, Brimmer Brewing, and Atsugi Beer) prices down to ¥550 ~ ¥900 a US pint. And they are damned tasty. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

3) On The Table

Along with The Lower Right, On the Table by Good Beer Faucets (to give it its proper name) has given the Daimon / Hamamatsucho a much need injection in the arm when it comes to craft beer. While there is only one size of beer at On The Table, the happy hour is one of the longest we’ve come across in Japan, starting at 11:00 and going through until 19:00 with you getting ¥200 off a beer. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

4) Wiz Craft Beer Bar

Located in between Kanda, Awajicho, and Ochanamizu areas of Tokyo, Wiz Craft Beer Bar opened in 2015 and again as proven to be a good choice for those in the area looking for some cheap happy hour beers. All beers on the menu have ¥200 off during happy hour, meaning some beers are as cheap as 500yen to 650yen. Only problem? Tax is not included in that price so you do need to compensate for that. No table charges as well means the price plus tax is what you pay.

5) Bakushu Club Popeye’s

If you’ve drunk craft beer even once in Japan and not been to Bakushu Club Popeye’s – long considered to be the mecca of craft beer in Japan – then go the next time you’re in the area. Besides having a ridiculous amount of choice (70+ taps at the time of writing). While not strictly discount beers, Bakushu Club Popeye’s does offer free food with selected beers during its happy hour session so you can line your stomach as you drink away.

6) Two Dogs Taproom

Roppongi is better known for being a clubbing district and has gained a reputation for being an area best to avoid at night or viewed with disdain. When Gas Panic closed, Two Dogs Taproom opened in its place and offers a unique happy hour – rather than paying more during happy hour, your beer is automatically upgraded to the next size up. Buy a small, get a medium. Buy a medium, get a large. Buy a large, um, no upgrade there. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

7) August Beer Club Roppongi

Another Roppongi place, but more on the outskirts and not the most accessible of places is August Beer Club Roppongi. We loved the Hiro-o branch, but it closed down due to not being busy enough to sustain business. The happy hour is only a couple of hours but all beers are ¥150 off so you can get a large US pint of decent ABC beer with prices from ¥750 to ¥900. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

8) Devilcraft (Gotanda)

If you haven’t tried any of the in-house beers from DevilCraft, the happy hour is the best time to try it. All pints are ¥200 off, taking the in-house beers down to about ¥800 a pint with half pints getting ¥100 off. While the other locations do a happy hour, Gotanda is the best value for money one. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

9) Craft Beer & Grill 135

Expensive during regular hours, but in happy hour, small 270ml beers are ¥500 instead of ¥800. Not the best value outside of happy hour, but it’s reasonable during those hours alone as there is nothing else in the area as cheap. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

10) Swan Lake Pub Edo

One of the first Swan Lake bars we went to and found it to be quite cheap for happy hour beers. All Swan Lake 250ml beers are ¥500, down from ¥650, and Swan Lake 500ml beers are ¥800, from ¥980. A guest beer is included in this deal but changes daily. There are no table charges if you seated before 6pm though.

Worthy Mentions

Baird Beer (All Locations)

Ok, not quite a happy hour, but Baird Beer do a points card that gets you 12 large beers (either 500ml or 400ml) for ¥10,000. This takes the price down from ¥1,000 / ¥1,100 to ¥866 per beer, not bad value as it’s on all day long. No table charges as well means the price you see is the price you pay.

About the Author

Rob

Been drinking beer since longer than I can remember.
You can find me in a bar, on the slopes, or doing DIY.
I enjoy porters, imperial porters, golden ales, and amber / viennas.